Dele Alli Leaves Como and Is a Free Agent as Championship Clubs Weigh Interest

Dele Alli is a free agent after Como and the midfielder mutually agreed to terminate his 18-month contract, the Italian club announced on Monday, ending an eight-month spell that yielded a single 10-minute substitute appearance and a straight red card.

The 29-year-old former England international has not played a competitive match consistently in more than two years, and Italian and British reports have linked him with potential moves back to England, predominantly at Championship level. Birmingham City, Wrexham and West Brom have been cited as clubs expressing interest, though no offers have been confirmed.

Alli’s only appearance for Como came as a late substitute in March, when he was shown a straight red for a challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan after an initial yellow was upgraded following a VAR review. The incident prompted protests from teammates and coach Cesc Fàbregas, who himself was later dismissed on the touchline. Alli did not play again for Como amid a run of injuries and selection decisions.

Reports in Italy said Alli had been training separately from the first team during pre-season, working with a designated group of players not in the manager’s plans. Como and Fàbregas had left the door open to a return to the squad, but the parties agreed to end the contract by mutual consent.

Alli rose to prominence at Tottenham Hotspur, where he scored 26 Premier League goals and registered 14 assists in 63 appearances before his 21st birthday. His 2016-17 campaign produced 22 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, establishing him as one of England’s most promising young midfielders. Subsequent moves to Everton and Besiktas, however, failed to reignite that form.

Any club considering Alli faces questions over his match fitness and readiness after limited playing time in recent seasons. West Bromwich Albion, managed by former Tottenham teammate Ryan Mason, has been suggested as a possible fit given familiarity and the club’s position in the Championship, but sources stressed that interest remains at an exploratory stage. Wrexham, recently promoted to the second tier and backed by owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and Birmingham, who have signalled strong transfer ambition, have also been named in media reports.

Off the field, Alli has been open about personal challenges that have affected his life and career. In interviews last year he described childhood trauma and detailed a period in which he sought treatment, saying he spent six weeks in a rehabilitation facility in the United States. He has also spoken publicly about struggles with sleeping-pill dependence and other mental-health issues. Last year he mourned the death of a childhood friend and fellow footballer, and earlier this year he and model Cindy Kimberly, who had supported him through personal difficulties, reportedly split.

Alli has trained individually to maintain fitness during periods away from first-team squads, and friends and former teammates have been reported visiting him during his time in Italy. He has also been the subject of wider speculation about the future of his playing career; an Italian report in the summer said he had considered retirement, but neither Alli nor his representatives have announced plans to retire.

Those familiar with his earlier achievements say any return to form would depend on sustained fitness, discipline and consistent game time. Clubs that might consider signing him would weigh his commercial profile and pedigree against the need for immediate, reliable contribution on the pitch.

Alli has spoken publicly about his ongoing ambitions; in 2024 he said he had an alarm set daily reading “World Cup 2026.” For now, his next step will be determined by his fitness, interest from clubs, and his own decision about how and where to resume his career.